Only 32% of SME businesses have sought external advice or information on matters affecting their business in the last 12 months.
Source: BIS

Less than 5% of SME businesses had significantly increased growth plans for the coming 12 months.
Source: BIS

Of the SME businesses that sought advice in the last 12 months, 28% needed help with their business strategy.
Source: BIS

70% of businesses questioned didn’t seek advice o key issues because they felt it was too expensive.
Source: BIS

61% of business owners didn’t know where to go for business support and advice.
Source: BIS

49% of start-up businesses will cease trading within 5 years.
Source: BIS

42% of SME businesses view cash-flow as being an obstacle to the success of their business.
Source: BIS

38% of SME businesses sought finance to support working capital and cash-flow.
Source: BIS

Only 28% of SME businesses increased their annual turnover in the last 12 months.
Source: BIS

Only 41% of SME businesses anticipated a profit / surplus increase when compared with the previous 12 months results.
Source: BIS

Small Business demand for external finance is at the highest level seen since December 2007.
Source: BIS

8% of SME businesses anticipated closure or a transfer of ownership in the next 12 months.
Source: BIS

Only 39% of SME’s were ‘very confident’ of success when applying for finance.
Source: BIS

Of the SME businesses that sought advice in the last 12 months, 51% needed help with their key financial issues.
Source: BIS

Only 11% of SME businesses are planning to move premises in the next 12 months.
Source: BIS

Only 34% of SME businesses reported any new or significantly improved processes in the last 12 months.
Source: BIS

Just over 50% of SME businesses delivered new or significantly improved products or services in the last year.
Source: BIS

76% of failed businesses suffered from either weak financial management or weak marketing capabilities.
Source: BIS

Businesses with fewer than 20 employees have only a 37% chance of surviving four years and only a 9% chance of surviving 10 years.
Source: BIS

Over 25% of owners feel their marriage or personal partnership have been adversely damaged by their business and are left too tired for sex. Source: BIS

Only 35% of SME businesses felt they have a ‘very good’ relationship with their bank.
Source: BIS

62% of business owners didn’t feel they could trust the business advice that was currently on offer.
Source: BIS

48% of owners didn’t feel that the right type of advice existed currently for their business.
Source: BIS

Only 16% of businesses had used some form of business mentor in the last 12 months.
Source: BIS

87% of consumers believe that SME businesses are a critical element of the overall economic health.
Source: BIS

48% of SME owners say what they need most to stay afloat through the recession is more customers.
Source: BIS

Of the small businesses that sought advice in the last 12 months, 23% needed help with their marketing and advertising.
Source: BIS

Only 39% of SME businesses have recruited new employees in the last 12 months.
Source: BIS

Just 30% of SME businesses are planning to recruit any new staff in the coming year.
Source: BIS

14% of SME businesses feel they will need to lose staff in the next 12 months.
Source: BIS

Less than 40% of SME businesses plan to undertake any staff training in the next 12 months.
Source: BIS

Less than 40% of SME businesses invested in training to develop Leadership and Management skills.
Source: BIS

Over 40% of SME businesses have no idea how much their recruitment and selection costs.
Source: BIS

80% of business owners admitted to having a problem in successfully balancing the competing demands of work and home.
Source: BIS

Every business owner deserves the right to learn how to increase sales, multiply their profits with our help you can!
Source: BIS

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Business Support

British Chambers of Commerce

The British Chambers of Commerce represents the interests of businesses through a network of 52 accredited chambers across the UK. In addition to offering advice and support to businesses, it lobbies on their behalf to ensure that their voices are heard by councils, local authorities and central government.

Federation of Small Businesses

The Federation of Small Businesses is theUK's largest campaigning pressure group promoting and protecting the interests of the self-employed and owners of small firms. Formed in 1974, it now has 200,000 members across 33 regions and 194 branches.

Their lobbying arm applies pressure on MPs, Government and Whitehall and puts the FSB viewpoint over to the media. The FSB also has Press and Parliamentary Offices in Glasgow,Cardiff and Belfast to lobby the devolved assemblies. Development Managers work alongside members in our regions to further FSB influence at a regional level. 

Institute of Directors

The Institute of Directors is Europe's largest membership organisation for business leaders. Established in 1903, the IoD has been representing senior level professionals since our Royal Charter in 1906, earning us our trusted reputation as the business network for leadership. They support over 43,000 members through 44 regional branches across the UK, and an international network that covers six continents.

UK Business Forums

UK Business Forums, the UK's most active online forums for small business owners and managers. Membership is open to all and basic membership is free. The members of UKBF create an open and inclusive community focused on the many challenges facing owners and managers of small businesses and start-ups. With forum topics ranging from accounts to PR, marketing to legal, and e-commerce to SEO, members can potentially help you find the advice and support you’re looking for.

Local Enterprise Partnerships

Local enterprise partnerships are led by local authorities and businesses across natural economic areas. They provide the vision, knowledge and strategic leadership needed to drive sustainable private sector growth and job creation in their area. By combining strong business leadership with groups of local authorities whose planning, regulatory and public realm roles are critical to growth, these bodies are looking to bring an integrated approach across real economic geographies.

Growth Accelerator

Growth Accelerator is a service provided by the country’s leading business growth specialists, known for delivering uniquely tailored advice to high-flying businesses – advice that gets hard results. It’s a partnership between private enterprise and government and it’s affordable.